Why Workplace Drug Testing Is So Important in the Modern World

September 22, 2023

Workplace Drug Testing

In today’s ever-changing world, workplace drug testing has become an important part of many businesses. Drug testing employees is an effective way to maintain a safe and productive work environment. They help to identify at-risk employees and prevent drug abuse from occurring. It can also help with legal compliance regarding certain regulations. Drugs are more popular than ever, and there are many various kinds. Testing your employees allows for better work culture, ensuring everyone is safe.

Employers will utilize drug testing for many reasons, such as pre-employment screening and random selection tests. These tests are used to determine if the employee has used various drugs or alcohol in the past or is using that day. Many companies will have random selection testing for their employees to ensure they continue to not abuse drugs and alcohol. This also helps to ensure compliance with company policy or laws related to drugs or controlled substances in the workplace. Depending on state law requirements, employees may also need regular or periodic tests depending on their job role. For example, DOT drug testing is done regularly to ensure the drivers can pass and are safe to be behind the wheel. This is to ensure the safety of the general public.

The Different Types of Drug Testing

There are various types of drug tests employers can opt for. While most will utilize urine or oral fluid testing, we also offer hair and blood testing as well. Urine and oral fluid tests are typically more affordable than hair follicle or blood tests but may not detect recent substance use. Hair follicle tests can identify usage over a longer period but tend to be more expensive. Blood tests offer accurate results regarding recent substance use but can be costly depending on how many samples need to be tested at once. Most companies will start with an oral fluid test or urine test. This test is only quantitative, meaning it will just give positive or negative results. To find out more, once there is a positive result, we can then move on to use a blood or hair test. This is a great way to save money and time.

Businesses that are looking at drug tests will have to take cost into consideration. Urine and Oral fluid testing are far less expensive than hair or blood testing. However, it doesn’t give as much information. If you would like to learn more about our pricing, give us a call at 800-230-2991. We would be happy to discuss what type of drug testing would work best for your current situation.

Things Businesses Should Consider Before Testing Employees

Employers need to carefully weigh the costs and benefits associated with conducting workplace drug tests before making any decisions. Drug testing can help minimize risks associated with substance abuse in the workplace, detect employees who abuse drugs or alcohol, and ensure compliance with safety regulations. However, employee privacy should be taken into account to avoid discriminatory practices.

You should have a policy in place for drug testing in. As a business, you don’t want to have legal ramifications from doing testing, so be sure that you follow state and local laws at all times. Drug testing is a medical test and also needs to follow HIPAA. If you are unsure of the laws, take some time to educate yourself to ensure you are in compliance or speak to an attorney.

While we can all agree that there is a place for drug testing within businesses, ensure that you are doing it in a legal manner.

Drug Testing Improves Safety

Many regulators require businesses to implement drug testing. The Department of Transportation (DOT) is one of these. Drug and alcohol testing is required by employers to detect the presence of drugs or alcohol in their employees. It is designed to prevent accidents caused by impaired driving or other job-related activities. The test results are shared with both the employer and the employee so that any necessary follow-up actions can be taken.

Any company that operates commercial motor vehicles (CMV) must adhere to DOT drug testing regulations. These regulations require all employees who operate CMVs to take drug tests prior to being hired. They will then be tested every two years thereafter. However, if they happen to be in an accident, they can expect to have testing done at the time of the accident as well as random drop testing, as the employer sees fit. These tests screen for a range of drugs, including marijuana, cocaine, opiates, amphetamines, phencyclidine, barbiturates, benzodiazepines, methadone, and propoxyphene. We can also test for alcohol, nicotine, and more.

Examples of Jobs Requiring Drug Tests

When it comes to hiring new employees, employers want to make sure they hire individuals who will be reliable and productive on the job. This is why it’s important for businesses to consider instituting a policy requiring applicants to pass a pre-employment drug test before being hired. Examples of jobs requiring pre-employment drug tests include drivers or pilots operating vehicles or aircraft, those working in medical fields such as nursing or pharmaceutical, those working with hazardous materials, law enforcement officers, teachers, construction workers operating heavy machinery, government workers with security clearance, childcare providers, and factory workers using heavy equipment or hazardous materials.

Advantages of Using Keystone Lab for Testing

In today’s world, drug use in the workplace is a significant concern for businesses. Using Keystone Lab for employee testing is essential in addressing this issue.

One of the advantages of Keystone Lab is our accuracy in results, which employers can trust. Furthermore, we handle all results confidentially, ensuring employee privacy and safeguarding business interests.

We understand the importance of workplace drug testing in today’s world, providing reliable services that help businesses stay compliant and protect employees’ privacy rights. Keystone Lab is one of North America’s most trusted names for workplace drug tests.

We help companies comply with government regulations and identify potential cases of substance abuse among their workforce. Businesses of all sizes should understand the importance of workplace drug tests in protecting workers and making better hiring decisions. Call 800-230-2991 today to get started.

Work With A Trusted Toxicology Expert

Keystone Laboratories, a CAP-accredited North Carolina licensed laboratory and CLIA-licensed lab, is committed to helping you make important decisions that impact the safety and health of your patients with greater confidence. Clients in 48 states can get prescription drug and substance abuse recovery monitoring, specialized testing, workplace drug testing, screening, and program management services from Keystone. Contact Keystone Laboratories today to receive the industry-leading laboratory testing services!

844-551-2857